Critical Materials Innovation Hub researchers at Ames National Laboratory have developed a new, non-toxic method for rare earth metal processing
A team of CMI researchers developed a new, safer, scalable method for producing rare earth metals. This new method, Rare Earth Metals from Alternative Fluoride Salt (REMAFS), uses an alternative fluoride salt in the production of rare earth metals, instead of the traditional rare earth salts that are made with harmful hydrofluoric acid (HF). Additionally, the method can be integrated earlier in the rare earth supply chain to reduce the number of steps required to convert mined materials to rare earth metals.
“The ability to easily produce large quantities of materials for the REMAFS process is a key step toward commercial deployment,” explained CMI Project Lead Denis Prodius, Ames National Laboratory. “Discussions around large-scale implementation are already underway with the licensee.”
CMI Deputy Director of the Division of Critical Materials Ikenna Nlebedim explains that their new method can start with materials either from the first salt stage, or with oxides.
"This process uses rare earth fluoride, but instead of traditional rare earth fluoride, it uses sodium rare earth fluoride. The difference is that sodium rare earth fluoride can be prepared without hydrofluoric acid,” Nlebedim said. “It can be prepared at room temperature, and it is very easy to scale, so you can produce large quantities of it.”
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